Communication control device, communication control method, program, and communication control system

ABSTRACT

Provided is a communication control device for controlling wireless communication among a plurality of communication apparatuses, including an identification information acquisition unit configured to acquire, from a first object corresponding to a first communication apparatus of the plurality of communication apparatuses, first identification information for identifying the first communication apparatus, and to acquire, from a second object corresponding to a second communication apparatus of the plurality of communication apparatuses, second identification information for identifying the second communication apparatus, an action recognition unit configured to recognize an action of coupling the first object with the second object, and a connection control unit configured to perform communication between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus corresponding to the coupled first object and second object, respectively, based on the acquired first identification information and second identification information to connect the first communication apparatus to the second communication apparatus through wireless communication.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/798,777 (filed on Jul. 14, 2015), which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/905,615 (filed on May 30, 2013 and issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 9,113,444 on Aug. 18, 2015), which claims priority toJapanese Patent Application No. 2012-146682 (filed on Jun. 29, 2012),which are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a communication control device, acommunication control method, a program, and a communication controlsystem.

In recent years, a plurality of communication apparatuses havewirelessly communicated with each other. Wireless communication includesvarious types of wireless standards such as Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Communication apparatusesperform wireless communication based on desired wireless standards inaccordance with users' selection.

SUMMARY

Incidentally, when a communication apparatus supports a plurality ofwireless standards, a user of the communication apparatus has to set thewireless standards. Consequently, a connection among communicationapparatuses through wireless communication is all the more complicatedfor the user. Different from wired communication, it is very difficultfor a user to distinguish connected communication apparatuses from eachother when a connection is established through wireless communication.The user therefore has to confirm a connection state of eachcommunication apparatus in order to distinguish the connectedcommunication apparatuses from each other.

JP 2002-132446A discloses a technology for providing a simpler interfaceby using a real object. However, JP 2002-132446A focuses on onlyassociating a function of an application with a real object, andintuitively operating the application that uses the shape of a realobject. As a result, it is still difficult to complete a connectionwithout individually confirming connection states of apparatuses throughwireless communication.

Thus, the present disclosure proposes a method of easily connectingcommunication apparatuses through wireless communication, and easilygrasping the connection states.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda communication control device for controlling wireless communicationamong a plurality of communication apparatuses, the communicationcontrol device including an identification information acquisition unitconfigured to acquire, from a first object corresponding to a firstcommunication apparatus of the plurality of communication apparatuses,first identification information for identifying the first communicationapparatus, and to acquire, from a second object corresponding to asecond communication apparatus of the plurality of communicationapparatuses, second identification information for identifying thesecond communication apparatus, an action recognition unit configured torecognize an action of coupling the first object with the second object,and a connection control unit configured to perform communicationbetween the first communication apparatus and the second communicationapparatus corresponding to the coupled first object and second object,respectively, based on the acquired first identification information andsecond identification information to connect the first communicationapparatus to the second communication apparatus through wirelesscommunication.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided a communication control method including acquiring, from afirst object corresponding to a first communication apparatus of aplurality of communication apparatuses capable of wirelesslycommunicating with each other, first identification information foridentifying the first communication apparatus, and acquiring, from asecond object corresponding to a second communication apparatus, secondidentification information for identifying the second communicationapparatus, recognizing an action of coupling the first object with thesecond object, and performing communication between the firstcommunication apparatus and the second communication apparatuscorresponding to the coupled first object and second object,respectively, based on the acquired first identification information andsecond identification information to connect the first communicationapparatus to the second communication apparatus through wirelesscommunication.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided a program for causing a computer to execute acquiring, from afirst object corresponding to a first communication apparatus of aplurality of communication apparatuses capable of wirelesslycommunicating with each other, first identification information foridentifying the first communication apparatus, and acquiring, from asecond object corresponding to a second communication apparatus, secondidentification information for identifying the second communicationapparatus, recognizing an action of coupling the first object with thesecond object, and performing communication between the firstcommunication apparatus and the second communication apparatuscorresponding to the coupled first object and second object,respectively, based on the acquired first identification information andsecond identification information to connect the first communicationapparatus to the second communication apparatus through wirelesscommunication.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided a communication control system including a plurality ofcommunication apparatuses capable of wirelessly communicating with eachother, a plurality of objects corresponding to the plurality ofcommunication apparatuses, respectively, the plurality of objects eachincluding identification information for a corresponding communicationapparatus, and a communication control device configured to control aconnection through wireless communication among the plurality ofcommunication apparatuses. The communication control device includes anidentification information acquisition unit configured to acquire, froma first object corresponding to a first communication apparatus of theplurality of communication apparatuses, first identification informationfor identifying the first communication apparatus, and to acquire, froma second object corresponding to the second communication apparatus ofthe plurality of communication apparatuses, second identificationinformation for identifying the second communication apparatus, anaction recognition unit configured to recognize an action of couplingthe first object with the second object, and a connection control unitconfigured to perform communication between the first communicationapparatus and the second communication apparatus corresponding to thecoupled first object and second object, respectively, based on theacquired first identification information and second identificationinformation to connect the first communication apparatus to the secondcommunication apparatus through wireless communication.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above,it is possible to easily connect communication apparatuses throughwireless communication, and to easily grasp the connection states.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acommunication control system according to a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification ofwireless standards that communication apparatuses having completed aconnection support;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of cardsare joined on a display device;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification regardingservices available to each communication apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functionalconfiguration of a communication control device according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a connection process between thedisplay device and the communication apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a display process of a wirelessstandard that the communication apparatuses having completed theconnection support;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a connection process of thecommunication apparatuses by a card disposed on the display device;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a display process of a servicecompatible with the communication apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acommunication control system according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification ofwireless standards that communication apparatuses having completed aconnection support;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state in which blocks are joined viacables;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification regardinga service available to each communication apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functionalconfiguration of a communication control device according to the secondembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a connection process between a blockand the communication apparatuses;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a notification process of a wirelessstandard that the communication apparatuses having completed aconnection supports;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a connection process of thecommunication apparatuses by the block;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a notification process of a servicecompatible with the communication apparatus;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acommunication control system according to a third embodiment; and

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acommunication control system according to a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elementsthat have substantially the same function and structure are denoted withthe same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of thesestructural elements is omitted.

The description will be made in the following order.

-   1. First Embodiment-   1-1. Overview of Communication Control System-   1-2. Example of Functional Configuration of Communication Control    Device-   1-3. Example of Connection Process of Wireless Communication-   2. Second Embodiment-   2-1. Overview of Communication Control System-   2-2. Example of Functional Configuration of Communication Control    Device-   2-3. Example of Connection Process of Wireless Communication-   3. Other Embodiments-   4. Conclusion

1. First Embodiment (1-1. Overview of Communication Control System)

An overview of a communication control system 100 according to a firstembodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of thecommunication control system 100 according to the first embodiment ofthe present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communicationcontrol system 100 includes a display device 110, cards 140A and 140B(which may be generically referred to as card 140, hereinafter), andcommunication apparatuses 180A and 180B (which may be genericallyreferred to as communication apparatus 180). Although FIG. 1 has the twocards 140A and 140B, and the two communication apparatuses 180A and180B, FIG. 1 may have three or more cards 140 and communicationapparatuses 180.

The card 140A corresponds to the communication apparatus 180A, and thecard 140B corresponds to the communication apparatus 180B. The card 140Acan record, for example, through NFC or the like, identificationinformation for identifying the communication apparatus 180A, andcommunication information for performing one-to-one communication withthe card 180A. Additionally, when the card 140A is an accessory for thecommunication apparatus 180A, the identification information foridentifying the communication apparatus 180A and the like are stored inadvance.

Similarly to the card 140A, the card 140B can also record identificationinformation for identifying the communication apparatus 180B, andcommunication information for performing one-to-one communication withthe communication apparatus 180B. Additionally, when the card 140B is anaccessory for the communication apparatus 180B, the identificationinformation for identifying the communication apparatus 180B and thelike are stored in advance.

The communication apparatus 180 allows a user to use various services(functions) such as video distribution and video reception. Thecommunication apparatus 180 performs wireless communication based on awireless standard such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The communicationapparatus 180 according to the first embodiment wirelessly communicateswith the display device 110 and another communication apparatus. In FIG.1, the communication apparatuses 180A and 180B wirelessly communicatewith each other, and wirelessly communicate with the display device 110.

The display device 110 is, for example, a sheet type display, anddisplays various types of information. The display device 110 can alsocommunicate with the card 140 disposed on the display device 110 throughnear field wireless communication such as NFC. The display device 110receives, from the card 140, the identification information foridentifying the communication apparatus 180 to which the card 140corresponds, the communication information for communicating with thecommunication apparatus 180, or the like.

(Connection between Display Device 110 and Communication Apparatus 180)

The display device 110 can wirelessly communicate with the communicationapparatus 180. In the present embodiment, the display device 110attempts a one-to-one connection to the communication apparatus 180corresponding to the card 140 disposed on the display device 110, basedon the identification information, the communication information, andthe like received from the card 140. In FIG. 1, the display device 110attempts a connection to the communication apparatus 180A based on theinformation received from the card 140A, and attempts a connection tothe communication apparatus 180B based on the information received fromthe card 140B.

The display device 110 displays a connection state of the communicationapparatus 180 to which the display device 110 has attempted to connect.Here, let us assume that the connection between the display device 110and the communication apparatus 180A has been completed, while theconnection between the display device 110 and the communicationapparatus 180B has failed to be established. In this case, the displaydevice 110 displays, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in a display area 112Anext to the card 140A that the connection to the communication apparatus180A has been completed, and displays in a display area 112B next to thecard 140B that the connection to the communication apparatus 180B fails.In this way, since a user or the like is informed of a state of theconnection between the display device 110 and the communicationapparatus 180 in a visual manner, the user or the like can easilydetermine the state of the connection between the display device 110 andthe communication apparatus 180.

(Notification of Wireless Standard That Communication ApparatusesSupport)

The display device 110 acquires, from the communication apparatus 180having completed a connection, information regarding a wireless standard(such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) that the communication apparatus 180supports. Then, the display device 110 issues a notification of theacquired information regarding the wireless standard.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification ofwireless standards that the communication apparatus 180 having completeda connection supports. Here, let us assume that a connection has beencompleted between the display device 110 and the communication apparatus180A corresponding to the card 140A illustrated in FIG. 1. Then, thedisplay device 110 displays pointers A1 and A2 to which wirelessstandards that the communication apparatus 180A supports are assigned inan area corresponding to an end of the card 140A. Here, let us assumethat Bluetooth is assigned to the pointer A1, and Wi-Fi is assigned tothe pointer A2. The display device 110 displays the pointers A1 and A2by turning on lights or blinking lights in different colors, forexample, such that the pointers A1 and A2 are easy to be distinguished.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the display device 110 also displays theinformation regarding the wireless standards assigned to the pointers A1and A2 in a display area 112A on a side of the card 140A. Here, thedisplay device 110 displays types of wireless standards that thecommunication apparatus 180A supports, and displays whether a connectionthrough each wireless standard has been ready to be established.Consequently, a user or the like can visually grasp whether theconnection of the communication apparatus 180A is ready.

(Connection of Communication Apparatuses by Card)

After the display device 110 completes the communication with thecommunication apparatuses 180 corresponding to the plurality of cards140, a user joins the pointers of the two cards 140 so that a connectionis established between the two communication apparatuses 180corresponding to the cards 140, based on a wireless standard assigned tothe pointers. The user can hereby visually connect the communicationapparatuses 180 based on a desired wireless standard even if nocomplicated setting or the like is applied in the communicationapparatuses 180. The user does not also have to take time out to applyany connection setting or the like in each of the communicationapparatuses 180.

The display device 110 displays whether the connection succeeds or failsbetween the two communication apparatuses 180 based on the wirelessstandard assigned to the pointers. A user can thereby visually grasp aconnection state based on a desired wireless standard. As a result, theuser does not have to take time out to confirm the connection state ofeach of the communication apparatuses 180.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the plurality of cards140 are joined on the display device 110. Let us assume in FIG. 3 thatthe display device 110 has completed connections to the communicationapparatus 180A corresponding to the card 140A, the communicationapparatus 180B corresponding to the card 140B, the communicationapparatus 180C corresponding to the card 140C, and a rooter 190corresponding to the card 140D. Once a user moves his/her finger on thepointer of the card 140, a line is displayed on the display device 110so as to extend from the pointer. For example, in FIG. 3, the usertouches onto the pointer B2 of the card 140B to move the line toward thepointer D2 of the card 140D. A line extending from the pointer B2, whichis a start point, to the pointer D2 is also shown.

In FIG. 3, a user joins the pointer B1 of the card 140B to the pointerC1 of the card 140C to connect the communication apparatus 180Bcorresponding to the card 140B and the communication apparatus 180Ccorresponding the card 140C based on Bluetooth. Display windows 112A and112B display that the connection of the communication apparatuses 180Band 180C has been completed based on Bluetooth. Similarly, the userjoins the pointer C2 of the card 140C to a pointer D1 of the card 140D,and as illustrated in the display windows 112C and 112D, the connectionof the communication apparatus 180C and the rooter 190 has beencompleted based on Wi-Fi. To the contrary, although the user joins thepointer Al of the card 140A to the pointer D4 of the card 140D, asillustrated in the display windows 112A and 112D, the connection of thecommunication apparatus 180A and the rooter 190 based on Wi-Fi fails.

(Notification of Service Compatible with Communication Apparatus)

After the communication apparatuses 180 are connected to each other, thedisplay device 110 acquires, from each of the communication apparatuses180, service information regarding a service available to thecommunication apparatuses 180. The display device 110 issues anotification of the acquired service information. Specifically, thedisplay device 110 displays the service information in a display windowpositioned on a side of each of the cards 140. A user can therebyvisually grasp a service available to each of the communicationapparatuses 180 so that the user does not have to take time out toconfirm the service in each of the communication apparatuses 180.

For example, as a service, a service for file sharing in which a filesuch as a still image is shared among the communication apparatuses 180will be mentioned. The service for file sharing is available, forexample, when a protocol of FTP is supported between the communicationapparatuses 180 between which a one-to-one connection is establishedbased on Bluetooth. As another service, a service for video distributionor video reception can be mentioned. The service for video distributionor video reception is available when the communication apparatuses 180are compatible with a DLNA server or a DLNA client.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification regardingservices available to each of the communication apparatuses 180. In FIG.4, as illustrated in the display window 112A, while the communicationapparatus 180A is not capable of using the service for videodistribution, the service for video reception is available. Meanwhile,as illustrated in the display window 112B, the communication apparatus180B can use the service for video distribution and the service for filesharing including a still image. As illustrated in the display window112C, the communication apparatus 180C can use the service for filesharing. When impairment occurs in the service, it is displayed that theservice is not available.

(1-2. Example of Functional Configuration of Communication ControlDevice)

As described above, the display device 110 controls wirelesscommunication among the communication apparatuses 180 corresponding tothe cards 140, based on the cards 140 disposed on the display device110. The display device 110 includes a communication control device 150for controlling wireless communication among the plurality ofcommunication apparatuses 180. An example of a functional configurationof the communication control device 150 according to the firstembodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functionalconfiguration of the communication control device 150 according to thefirst embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the communication controldevice 150 includes an identification information acquisition unit 152,an action recognition unit 154, a connection control unit 156, a displaycontrol unit 158, a notification control unit 160, and a storage unit162.

The identification information acquisition unit 152 acquires, from thecard 140 (first object) corresponding to a first communication apparatus180 of the plurality of communication apparatuses 180, identificationinformation (first identification information) for identifying the firstcommunication apparatus. The identification information acquisition unit152 also acquires, from the card 140 (second object) corresponding to asecond communication apparatus 180, identification information (secondidentification information) for identifying the second communicationapparatus 180. For example, the identification information acquisitionunit 152 acquires identification information by receiving theidentification information stored in the card 140 through NFC or thelike. As an example, let us assume for the following description thatthe first communication apparatus is the communication apparatus 180A,the second communication apparatus is the communication apparatus 180B,the first object, which is a card-shaped object, is the card 140A, andthe second object is the card 140B.

The action recognition unit 154 recognizes an action of coupling thecard 140A with the card 140B by a user. In the first embodiment, asillustrated in FIG. 1 or the like, the card 140A and the card 140B aredisposed on the display device 110, which can receive a touch operation.In the first embodiment, an action of coupling the card 140A with thecard 140B indicates, as illustrated in FIG. 3, an action of joining thecard 140A to the card 140B on the display device 110 through a user'stouch operation. Consequently, the user can intuitively understand thatthe card 140A and the card 140B are coupled.

The connection control unit 156 communicates with the communicationapparatus 180A and the communication apparatus 180B corresponding to thecoupled card 140A and card 140B, respectively, based on the acquiredidentification information regarding the two communication apparatuses180A and 180B, and connects the communication apparatus 180A to thecommunication apparatus 180B with each other through wirelesscommunication. Consequently, only coupling the visible two cards allowsa user to establish a connection between desired communicationapparatuses 180 through wireless communication.

The display control unit 158 displays, on a display screen(corresponding to the display unit) of the display device 110,information regarding wireless standards that the respectivecommunication apparatuses 180A and 180B support. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 3, the display control unit 158 displays, on thedisplay screen, types of wireless standards that the communicationapparatuses 180A and 180B support. The user can hereby easily grasp thewireless standards that the communication apparatus 180A and thecommunication apparatus 180B support.

The display control unit 158 causes pointers (such as the pointers A1and B1 illustrated in FIG. 3) supporting a plurality of wirelessstandards to be displayed in association with the card 140A and the card140B. When an action of joining, by a touch operation, the pointersassociated with the respective cards 140A and 140B is recognized by theaction recognition unit 154, the connection control unit 156 connectsthe communication apparatus 180A to the communication apparatus 180Bbased on the wireless standards that the pointers support. Consequently,when attempting communication based on desired wireless standards, auser only has to join pointers supporting to the desired wirelessstandards so that convenience for a user is enhanced.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the notification control unit 160 issues anotification regarding whether a connection through wirelesscommunication has been completed between the communication apparatus180A and the communication apparatus 180B, by using the display screenof the display device 110. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the notificationcontrol unit 160 issues a notification of information regarding servicesavailable to the communication apparatus 180A and the communicationapparatus 180B through the display screen of the display device 110. Thenotification control unit 160 may also use a light emitting unit such asan LED instead of a display screen to issue a notification.

The storage unit 162 stores data that is used when the communicationcontrol device 150 performs a process. The storage unit 162 also storesa program that is executed when the communication control device 150controls wireless communication.

(1-3. Example of Connection Process of Wireless Communication)

Next, an example of a connection process of wireless communicationaccording to the first embodiment, which has the above-describedconfiguration, will be described. The above-described communicationcontrol device 150 of the display device 110 executes the program storedin the storage unit 162 so that an example of a process described belowis realized. The program to be executed may also be stored in arecording medium such as a Compact Disk (CD), a Digital Versatile Disk(DVD), and a memory card, or may also be downloaded from a server or thelike via the Internet.

(Connection Process between Display Device and Communication Apparatus)

First, a connection process between the display device 110 and thecommunication apparatus 180 corresponding to the card 140 disposed onthe display device 110 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the connection process between thedisplay device 110 and the communication apparatus 180. The flowchartillustrated in FIG. 6 starts when a user turns on the power sources ofthe display device 110 and the communication apparatus 180 (step S102).Let us assume that the card 140 is disposed on the display device 110,as illustrated in FIG. 1, and the display device 110 acquires, from thecard 140, identification information or the like of the correspondingcommunication apparatus 180. Next, the display device 110 attempts toconnect to the communication apparatus 180 corresponding to the card 140disposed on the display device 110, based on the identificationinformation or the like acquired from the card 140 (step S104).

Next, the display device 110 determines whether an error or time-outoccurs while connecting to the communication apparatus 180 (S106). Whenan error or time-out does not occur in step S106 (No), the displaydevice 110 displays, on the display window, a notification that theconnection has been completed as illustrated in FIG. 1 (step S108). Tothe contrary, when an error or time-out occurs in step S106 (Yes), thedisplay device 110 displays an error on the display window (step S110).

(Display Process of Wireless Standard That Communication ApparatusHaving Completed Connection Supports)

Next, a display process of a wireless standard that the communicationapparatus 180 having completed the connection to the display device 110supports will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the display process of the wirelessstandard that the communication apparatus 180 having completed theconnection supports. The flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7 starts wherethe connection between the display device 110 and the communicationapparatuses 180 has been completed in the flowchart illustrated in FIG.6 (step S122).

Next, the display device 110 inquires the communication apparatus 180having completed the connection about a wireless standard that thecommunication apparatus 180 supports (step S124). The display device 110receives, as the response, information regarding the wireless standardthat the communication apparatus 180 supports. Next, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the display device 110 lights or blinks a pointer supporting thewireless standard, at an end of the card 140 corresponding to thecommunication apparatus 180 that has received the response (step S126).At this moment, the display device 110 displays the pointer in adifferent color for each wireless standard.

(Communication Process of Communication Apparatuses 180 by Card onDisplay Device)

Next, a connection process of the communication apparatuses 180 by thecard 140 disposed on the display device 110 will be described withreference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the connection process of thecommunication apparatuses 180 by the card 140 disposed on the displaydevice 110. The flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8 starts when a pointersupporting the wireless standard is lighted or blinked at the end of thecard 140.

First, drag of a user's finger between pointers of the two cards 140causes the display device 110 to join the two pointers using a line asillustrated in FIG. 3 (step S142). Next, the display device 110determines whether the two pointers joined by the line have the samecolor (step S144). When it is determined in step S144 that the twopointers do not have the same color (No), it is meant that differentwireless standards are joined. The display device 110 thereforedisconnects the connection of the lines (step S146).

To the contrary, when it is determined in step S144 that the twopointers have the same color (Yes), the display device 110 requests thetwo communication apparatuses 180 corresponding to the two pointers toconnect to each other based on the wireless standard supported by thepointers (step S148). The two communication apparatuses 180 herebyattempt to connect to each other based on the wireless standardsupported by the pointers. When an error or time-out occurs while theconnection is attempted between the two communication apparatuses 180(step S150: Yes), the display device 110 displays an error or an erroricon in order to notify a user (step S152).

(Display Process of Service Compatible with Communication Apparatuses)

Next, a display process of a service compatible with the communicationapparatuses 180 connected by joining the pointers of the cards 140 willbe described with reference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the display process of the servicescompatible with the communication apparatuses 180. The flowchartillustrated in FIG. 9 starts when the communication apparatuses 180 areconnected by joining the pointers of the cards 140 in the flowchartillustrated in FIG. 8 (step S162).

Next, the display device 110 inquires the communication apparatuses 180about a service that the communication apparatuses 180 can provide inthe current connection state of the communication apparatuses 180 (stepS164). Next, the display device 110 determines whether an error occursin the service (such as video distribution or file sharing) that thecommunication apparatuses 180 can provide (step S166). When it isdetermined in step S166 that an error does not occur (No), the displaydevice 110 displays a notification that the service is available, asillustrated in FIG. 4 (step S168). To the contrary, when it isdetermined in step S166 that an error occurs (Yes), the display device110 displays a notification that the service is not available (stepS170).

2. Second Embodiment (2-1. Overview of Communication Control System)

In the above-described first embodiment, the communication apparatuses180 are connected by disposing the cards 140 corresponding to thecommunication apparatuses 180 on the display device 110 and joining thecards 140. Meanwhile, in a second embodiment, blocks instead of thecards 140 are joined via cables so that communication apparatusescorresponding to the blocks are connected. An overview of acommunication control system 200 according to the second embodiment ofthe present disclosure will be described below with reference to FIG.10.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of thecommunication control system 200 according to the second embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 10, the communication control system 200 includesblocks 210A, 210B, and 210C (which may be generically referred to asblock 210, hereinafter), and communication apparatuses 240A, 210B, and210C (which may be genetically referred to as communication apparatus240, hereinafter). Although the three blocks 210A, 210B, and 210C, andthe three communication apparatuses 240A, 240B, and 240C are shown inFIG. 10, the number of the blocks and the number of communicationapparatuses are not limited thereto. Two, four, or more blocks andcommunication apparatuses may also be included.

Similarly to the communication apparatus 180 according to the firstembodiment, the communication apparatus 240 is an apparatus that allowsa user to use various services (functions) such as video distribution orvideo reception. The communication apparatus 240 performs wirelesscommunication based on a wireless standard such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.The communication apparatuses 240A, 240B, and 240C illustrated in FIG.10 can wirelessly communicate with each other.

The block 210A corresponds to the communication apparatus 240A, theblock 210B corresponds to the communication apparatus 240B, and theblock 210C corresponds to the communication apparatus 240C. For example,the block 210A may be an accessory for the communication apparatus 240A(the same applies for the other blocks 210B and 210C). As describedbelow, the plurality of blocks 210A, 210B, and 210C can be connected toeach other via cables or the like.

(Connection between Block 210 and Communication Apparatus 240)

The block 210 includes a function of wirelessly communicating with thecorresponding communication apparatus 240. For example, the blocks 210A,210B, and 210C illustrated in FIG. 10 can be paired with thecorresponding communication apparatuses 240A, 240B, and 240C based onNFC or Bluetooth, and can complete one-to-one communication.Additionally, if the block 210 is an accessory for the communication240, the block 210 and the communication apparatus 240 are available inthe state in which they have been already paired with each other.

The block 210 can also inform a user of a connection state between theblock 210 and the corresponding communication apparatus 240. Forexample, the block 210 can notify the user of completion or failure ofthe connection by using a display unit, a light emitting unit (such asan LED), or the like. The blocks 210A and 210B illustrated in FIG. 10issue a notification on a display unit S, while the block 210C issues anotification by using a light emitting unit L. Additionally, althoughthe blocks 210A and 210B use the display unit S to issue a notificationin FIG. 10, they may use the light emitting unit to issue anotification.

(Notification of Wireless Standard That Communication ApparatusSupports)

The block 210 acquires, from the communication apparatus 240 havingcompleted a connection, connection information regarding a wirelessstandard that the communication apparatus 240 supports. The block 210notifies a user of the acquired information regarding the wirelessstandard.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification regardingthe wireless standard that the communication apparatus 240 havingcompleted the connection supports. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the block210 includes sockets H1 to H4 into which cables supporting wirelessstandards are inserted, and light emitting units L1 to L6 that are usedfor notifying a user. Additionally, the sockets H1 to H4 have differentshapes and are assigned to the respective standards. The sockets H1 toH4 are configured to be lighted or blinked.

In FIG. 11, the block 210 has completed the connection to thecorresponding communication apparatus 240, and the light emitting unitL1 used for showing that the connection is completed is lighted. Inaddition, since the communication apparatus 240 to which the block 210corresponds supports the standards of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the socketsH1 and H2 that support the standards of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are alsolighted. Such a visual notification is issued, and a user can thereforeeasily grasp a wireless standard that the communication apparatus 240supports.

Although the sockets H1 and H2 are configured to be lighted or blinkedin FIG. 11, a way of notification is not limited thereto. A lightemitting unit corresponding to the socket may be provided around thesocket to emit light (see FIG. 12 described below). In FIG. 11, thesockets H1 to H4 are configured to have different shapes, but the shapesare not necessarily different. If a user can identify sockets thatsupport to the respective wireless standards, the shapes of the socketsmay be identical.

(Connection between Communication Apparatuses by Block)

In the second embodiment, once a user joins, via cables, the sockets H1to H4 to which wireless standards of the two blocks 210 are assigned, tothe communication apparatuses 240 corresponding to the two blocks 210establish a connection based on the wireless standards supported bysockets. The user can hereby connect the communication apparatuses 240based on the desired wireless standard without applying a complicatedsetting in the communication apparatuses 240.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the blocks 210 arejoined via cables. In FIG. 12, the block 210A and the block 210B arejoined via a cable C1 that supports Bluetooth, the block 210A and theblock 210D are joined via a cable C2 that supports Wi-Fi, and the block210C and the block 210D are joined via the cable C2 that supports Wi-Fi.Additionally, the block 210D is compatible with a Wi-Fi rooter 250 andestablishes a one-to-one connection to the Wi-Fi rooter 250. In thisway, the blocks are joined via the cables C1 and C2 so that the block210A and the block 210B are connected based on Bluetooth, and the block210D is connected to the block 210A and the block 210C based on Wi-Fi.

The block 210 includes connection notification units E1 to E4 around thecorresponding sockets H1 to H4, and the connection notification units E1to E4 are used for notifying a user whether the connection to anotherblock is completed or the connection is failed after joined to a cable.For example, the connection notification units E1 to E4 are lighted andchange the colors of the lights to issue notifications indicating thatthe connections are completed or failed. In FIG. 12, notifications areissued indicating that the blocks 210A and 210B have completed theconnection and the block 210 has failed in the connection.

(Notification of Service compatible with Communication Apparatus)

The block 210 acquires, from the corresponding communication apparatus240, service information regarding a service (such as videodistribution, video reception, or file sharing) available to thecommunication apparatus 240, and issues a notification. A user canhereby visually grasp a service available to each communicationapparatus 240.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification ofservices available to each communication apparatus 240. The blocks 210A,210B, and 210C illustrated in FIG. 13 each include a plurality of lightemitting units (light emitting units L2 to L6) for issuing notificationsof service information. The light emitting units L2 to L6 change thecolors of emitted light, for example, to issue notifications thatservices are available or are not available. In FIG. 13, the block 210Aissues a notification that the communication apparatus 240A can useservices for video distribution and file sharing, the block 210B issuesa notification that the communication apparatus 240B can use the servicefor file sharing, and the block 210C issues a notification that thecommunication apparatus 240C is not capable of using video distributiondue to an error, but can use video reception.

(2-2. Example of Functional Configuration of Communication ControlDevice)

In the first embodiment, the display device 110 includes thecommunication control device 150 (FIG. 5). Meanwhile, in the secondembodiment, the block 210 includes the communication control device. Anexample of a functional configuration of a communication control device250 according to the second embodiment will be described below withreference to FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating the example of the functionalconfiguration of the communication control device 250 according to thesecond embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 14, similarly to the firstembodiment, the communication control device 250 includes anidentification information acquisition unit 252, an action recognitionunit 254, a connection control unit 256, a notification control unit260, and a storage unit 262.

The identification information acquisition unit 252 acquiresidentification information for identifying a communication apparatus ofthe block 210 stored in the storage unit 262. Let us assume below that afirst object, which is a block-shaped object, is the block 210A, asecond object is the block 210B, a first communication apparatus is thecommunication apparatus 240A, and a second communication apparatus isthe communication apparatus 240B. The action recognition unit 254recognizes an action of joining the two blocks 210A and 210B via acable. That is, the action recognition unit 254 recognizes that cablesare inserted into the sockets of the two blocks 210A and 210B.

The connection control unit 256 connects the communication apparatus240A to the communication apparatus 240B through wireless communicationbased on the identification information of the two communicationapparatuses 240A and 240B acquired for the communication apparatus 240Aand the communication apparatus 240B respectively corresponding to theblocks 210A and 210B to which cables are joined. At this moment, theconnection control unit 256 connects the communication apparatus 240A tothe communication apparatus 240B based on wireless standards supportedby the sockets having the cables inserted therein. A user can herebyintuitively understand which wireless standard is used for theconnection.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the notification control unit 260 issues anotification indicating the connection state of wireless communicationbetween the connected communication apparatus 240A and communicationapparatus 240B by using the display units or the light emitting units ofthe blocks 210A and 210B. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the notificationcontrol unit 260 also issues a notification indicating serviceinformation available to the communication apparatus 240A and thecommunication apparatus 240B by using the display units or the lightemitting units of the blocks 210A and 210B.

(2-3. Example of Control Process of Wireless Communication)

An example of a control process of the wireless communication having theabove-described configuration according to the second embodiment will bedescribed below. The example of the process in the second embodiment issimilar to the example of the process in the first embodiment, which hasbeen described in FIGS. 6 to 9, and the process in the second embodimentis executed by the communication control device 250.

(Connection Process between Block and Communication Apparatus)

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a connection process between theblock 210 and the communication apparatus 240. The flowchart illustratedin FIG. 15 starts when the power sources of the block 210 and thecommunication apparatus 240 are turned on (step S202). Next, each block210 attempts to connect to the corresponding communication apparatus 240(step S204).

Next, if an error or time-out does not occur while connecting to thecommunication apparatus 240 (step S206: No), the block 210 uses thedisplay screen or the light emitting unit to issue a notificationindicating completion of the connection (step S208), as illustrated inFIG. 10. To the contrary, if an error or time-out occurs in step S206(Yes), the block 210 uses the display screen or the light emitting unitto issue a notification of the error (step S210).

(Notification Process of Wireless Standard That Communication ApparatusSupport)

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a notification process of a wirelessstandard that the communication apparatus 240 having completed theconnection supports. The flowchart illustrated in FIG. 16 starts at thecompletion of the connection between the block 210 and the communicationapparatus 240 (step S222) shown in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 15.

Next, each block 210 inquires the communication apparatus 240 havingcompleted the connection about a wireless standard that thecommunication apparatus 240 supports (step S224). Next, as illustratedin FIG. 11, each block 210 turns on or blinks a light at a socketsupporting the wireless standard the communication apparatus 240 answers(step S226).

(Connection Process between Communication Apparatuses by Block)

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a connection process between thecommunication apparatuses 240 by the block 210. The flowchartillustrated in FIG. 17 starts when a user connects a cable into a portprovided at the socket of the block 210 (step S242).

If the socket having the cable connected therein supports a wirelessstandard that the communication apparatuses 240 do not support (stepS244: No), the block 210 displays an error (step S254). To the contrary,if the socket supports a wireless standard that the communicationapparatuses 240 support in step S244 (Yes), the block 210 determines thewireless standard used for connecting the communication apparatuses 240(step S246). Next, the block 210 asks the corresponding communicationapparatuses 240 to connect to each other based on the determinedwireless standard (step S248).

Thereafter, if an error or time-out does not occur when the twocommunication apparatuses 240 connect to each other based on thepredetermined wireless standard (step S250: No), the block 210 uses thedisplay screen or the light emitting unit to issue a notification ofcompletion of the connection (step S252), as illustrated in FIG. 12. Tothe contrary, if an error or time-out occurs in step S250 (Yes), theblock 210 uses the display screen or the light emitting unit to issue anotification of the error (step S254).

(Notification Process of Service Compatible with CommunicationApparatuses)

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a notification process of servicescompatible with the communication apparatuses 240. The flowchartillustrated in FIG. 18 starts when the blocks 210 are joined via cablesto connect the communication apparatuses 240 in the flowchartillustrated in FIG. 17 (step S262).

Next, each block 210 inquires the corresponding communication apparatus240 about a service that the communication apparatus 240 can providebased on the current connection state of the communication apparatus 240(step S264). If an error occurs in the service that the communicationapparatus 240 can provide (step S266: Yes), the block 210 issues anotification that the service is not available (step S270), asillustrated in FIG. 13. To the contrary, if an error does not occur inthe service in step S266 (No), the block 210 issues a notification thatthe service is available (step S268).

3. Other Embodiments

In the first embodiment, the communication apparatuses 180 correspondingto the cards 140 disposed on the display device 110 are connected.However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and configurationsdescribed below in FIGS. 19 and 20 may be adopted.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acommunication control system 300 according to a third embodiment. In thethird embodiment, a projection device 310 such as a projector is usedinstead of the display device 110 in the first embodiment.

The projection device 310 projects a projection surface 311 on whichcards 340A, 340B, and 340C (which may be generically referred to as card340) corresponding to communication apparatuses 380A, 380B, and 380C(which may be generically referred to as communication apparatus 380),respectively, are disposed. The projection device 310 also includes afunction of an imaging device for capturing a state of the card 340disposed on the projection surface 311. Furthermore, the projectiondevice 310 can wirelessly communicate with the communication apparatus380 corresponding to the card 340 based on a code (such as a QR code) ofthe captured card 340. The code of the card 340 herein includesidentification information for identifying the communication apparatus380 to which the card 340 corresponds. For this reason, the projectiondevice 310 can identify the communication apparatus 380 to which thecard 340 corresponds by reading the code.

The projection device 310 can also recognize an action that a user Ujoins the cards 340 with the finger. For example, in FIG. 19, theprojection device 310 recognizes actions between the card 340A and thecard 340B, and between the card 340A and the card 340C. The projectiondevice 310 establish a connection between, for example, thecommunication apparatus 380A and the communication apparatus 380Bcorresponding to the card 340A and the card 340B, respectively, based onthe recognition result. Since a connection process between thecommunication apparatuses 380 by the projection device 310 is the sameas the process performed by the display device 110 according to thefirst embodiment, the description is omitted here. In this way, in thethird embodiment, the card 340 is used to allow a user to visually graspa connection state of the communication apparatuses 380, and thecommunication apparatuses 380 to be easily connected.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acommunication control system 400 according to a fourth embodiment. Inthe fourth embodiment, a mobile terminal 410 such as a smartphone isused instead of the display device 110 in the first embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment, cards 440A, 440B, and 440C (which may begenerically referred to as card 440) corresponding to communicationapparatus 480A, 480B, and 480C (which may be generically referred to ascommunication apparatus 480), respectively, also include codes (such asQR codes). The card 440 is disposed on paper 420 in the fourthembodiment.

The mobile terminal 410 includes a function of capturing a still imageor the like, and captures the card 440 disposed on the paper 420. Themobile terminal 410 analyzes the code in the captured image (that is,identifies the communication apparatuses 480 corresponding the cards440), and can wirelessly communicate with the communication apparatus480 corresponding to the card 440. In the fourth embodiment, a user Udraws a line on paper 420 using a pen P to join the cards 440. Forexample, in FIG. 20, the card 440A is joined to the card 440C, and aconnection is established between the communication apparatus 480A andthe communication apparatus 480C corresponding to the card 440A and thecard 440C, respectively. In this way, in the fourth embodiment, a usercan also use the card 440 to visually grasp a connection state of thecommunication apparatuses 480, and the communication apparatuses 480 canbe easily connected.

4. Conclusion

As described above, in the present disclosure, an action for couplingobjects such as cards and blocks that a user can visually watch and thatcorrespond to communication apparatuses which perform wirelesscommunication is recognized, and the two communication apparatusescorresponding to the coupled objects are connected through wirelesscommunication. The user can hereby visually grasp the wirelesscommunication invisible for the user's eyes so that the user can connectthe apparatuses more easily through the wireless communication and cangrasp the connection state of the wireless communication more easily.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

The steps illustrated in the flowcharts in the above-describedembodiment naturally include processes performed in the described andchronological order, and further include processes that are notnecessarily performed in chronological order, but are also performed inparallel or are individually performed. It is also possible to changethe order as necessary even in the steps for chronologically performingthe processes.

A process performed by the information processing apparatus described inthe present specification may be realized by using any one of software,hardware, and a combination of software and hardware. A program includedin software is stored in advance in, for example, a storage medium thatis built in or externally provided to each apparatus. When executed,programs are each read out by, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM),and executed by a processor such as a CPU.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

-   (1) A communication control device for controlling wireless    communication among a plurality of communication apparatuses, the    communication control device including:

an identification information acquisition unit configured to acquire,from a first object corresponding to a first communication apparatus ofthe plurality of communication apparatuses, first identificationinformation for identifying the first communication apparatus, and toacquire, from a second object corresponding to a second communicationapparatus of the plurality of communication apparatuses, secondidentification information for identifying the second communicationapparatus;

an action recognition unit configured to recognize an action of couplingthe first object with the second object; and

a connection control unit configured to perform communication betweenthe first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatuscorresponding to the coupled first object and second object,respectively, based on the acquired first identification information andsecond identification information to connect the first communicationapparatus to the second communication apparatus through wirelesscommunication.

-   (2) The communication control device according to (1), wherein the    first object and the second object are each a card-shaped object.-   (3) The communication control device according to (2),

wherein the first object and the second object are disposed on a displaydevice on which a touch operation is capable of being performed, and

wherein the action of coupling the first object with the second objectis an action of joining the first object to the second object byperforming the touch operation on the display device.

-   (4) The communication control device according to (3), further    including:

a display control unit configured to display, on the display device,information regarding a wireless standard that each of the firstcommunication apparatus and the second communication apparatus supports.

-   (5) The communication control device according to (4),

wherein the display control device displays pointers supporting aplurality of the wireless standards, respectively, in association withthe first object and the second object, and

wherein, once the action recognition unit recognizes the action ofperforming the touch operation to join the pointers associated with thefirst object and the second object, the connection control unit connectsthe first communication apparatus to the second communication apparatusbased on the plurality of wireless standards supported by the pointers.

-   (6) The communication control device according to (1), wherein the    first object and the second object are each a block-shaped object.-   (7) The communication control device according to (6), wherein the    action of coupling the first object with the second object is an    action of joining the first object to the second object via a cable.-   (8) The communication control device according to (7),

wherein the first object and the second object each include a pluralityof sockets that support a plurality of wireless standards, and

wherein the connection control unit connects the first communicationapparatus to the second communication apparatus based on wirelessstandards supported by sockets into each of which the cable is inserted.

-   (9) The communication control device according to any one of (1) to    (8), further including:

a notification control unit configured to use a display unit or a lightemitting unit to issue a notification indicating whether a connectionbetween the first communication apparatus and the second communicationapparatus through the wireless communication has been completed.

-   (10) The communication control device according to any one of (1) to    (9), further including:

a notification control unit configured to use a display unit or a lightemitting unit to issue a notification of service information availableto the first communication apparatus and the second communicationapparatus.

-   (11) A communication control method including:

acquiring, from a first object corresponding to a first communicationapparatus of a plurality of communication apparatuses capable ofwirelessly communicating with each other, first identificationinformation for identifying the first communication apparatus, andacquiring, from a second object corresponding to a second communicationapparatus, second identification information for identifying the secondcommunication apparatus;

recognizing an action of coupling the first object with the secondobject; and

performing communication between the first communication apparatus andthe second communication apparatus corresponding to the coupled firstobject and second object, respectively, based on the acquired firstidentification information and second identification information toconnect the first communication apparatus to the second communicationapparatus through wireless communication.

-   (12) A program for causing a computer to execute:

acquiring, from a first object corresponding to a first communicationapparatus of a plurality of communication apparatuses capable ofwirelessly communicating with each other, first identificationinformation for identifying the first communication apparatus, andacquiring, from a second object corresponding to a second communicationapparatus, second identification information for identifying the secondcommunication apparatus;

recognizing an action of coupling the first object with the secondobject; and

performing communication between the first communication apparatus andthe second communication apparatus corresponding to the coupled firstobject and second object, respectively, based on the acquired firstidentification information and second identification information toconnect the first communication apparatus to the second communicationapparatus through wireless communication.

-   (13) A communication control system including:

a plurality of communication apparatuses capable of wirelesslycommunicating with each other;

a plurality of objects corresponding to the plurality of communicationapparatuses, respectively, the plurality of objects each includingidentification information for a corresponding communication apparatus;and

a communication control device configured to control a connectionthrough wireless communication among the plurality of communicationapparatuses,

wherein the communication control device includes

-   -   an identification information acquisition unit configured to        acquire, from a first object corresponding to a first        communication apparatus of the plurality of communication        apparatuses, first identification information for identifying        the first communication apparatus, and to acquire, from a second        object corresponding to the second communication apparatus of        the plurality of communication apparatuses, second        identification information for identifying the second        communication apparatus,    -   an action recognition unit configured to recognize an action of        coupling the first object with the second object, and    -   a connection control unit configured to perform communication        between the first communication apparatus and the second        communication apparatus corresponding to the coupled first        object and second object, respectively, based on the acquired        first identification information and second identification        information to connect the first communication apparatus to the        second communication apparatus through wireless communication.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising:circuitry configured to detect whether a first connection of a firstapparatus is ready, detect whether a second connection of a secondapparatus is ready, control a display device to display a first iconcorresponding to the first apparatus and a second icon corresponding tothe second apparatus, and a first connection part and a secondconnection part, at circumferences of the first icon and the second iconrespectively, to be connected with a first line based on an establishingof a wireless connection between the first apparatus and the secondapparatus, acquire information obtained based on an action of couplingthe first apparatus and the second apparatus, and control theestablishing of the wireless connection between the first apparatus andthe second apparatus based on the acquired information.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to obtain user input information basedon an input made upon a display of the display device corresponding tothe action of coupling the first apparatus and the second apparatus. 3.The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to obtain user input information basedon an input drawn between the first apparatus and the second apparatus,which corresponds to the action of coupling the first apparatus and thesecond apparatus.
 4. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control thedisplay device to display a message to indicate whether the establishingof the wireless connection has been completed or not.
 5. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first apparatusand the second apparatus are block-shaped objects.
 6. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry isfurther configured to control the display device to display a thirdconnection part at the first icon, the first connection part and thethird connection part corresponding to wireless connections differentfrom each other.
 7. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the first connection part and the third connection partcorrespond to wireless standards different from each other.
 8. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay device is configured to receive a touch action, and the actionof coupling the first apparatus and the second apparatus is a successivetouch action to the first connection part and the second connectionpart.
 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the successive touch action to the first connection part and thesecond connection part is a drag action.
 10. An information processingmethod comprising: detecting whether a first connection of a firstapparatus is ready; detecting whether a second connection of a secondapparatus is ready; displaying a first icon corresponding to the firstapparatus and a second icon corresponding to the second apparatus;displaying a first connection part and a second connection part atcircumferences of the first icon and the second icon respectively, to beconnected with a first line based on an establishing of a wirelessconnection between the first apparatus and the second apparatus; andacquiring information obtained based on an action of coupling the firstapparatus and the second apparatus, wherein the wireless connectionbetween the first apparatus and the second apparatus is establishedbased on the acquired information.
 11. The information processing methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising: obtaining user inputinformation based on an input made upon a display of a display devicecorresponding to the action of coupling the first apparatus and thesecond apparatus.
 12. The information processing method according toclaim 10, further comprising: obtaining user input information based onan input drawn between the first apparatus and the second apparatus,which corresponds to the action of coupling the first apparatus and thesecond apparatus.
 13. The information processing method according toclaim 10, further comprising: displaying a message to indicate whetherthe establishing of the wireless connection has been completed or not.14. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein thefirst apparatus and the second apparatus are block-shaped objects. 15.The information processing method according to claim 10, furthercomprising: displaying a third connection part at the first icon, thefirst connection part and the third connection part corresponding towireless connections different from each other.
 16. The informationprocessing method according to claim 15, wherein the first connectionpart and the third connection part correspond to wireless standardsdifferent from each other.
 17. The information processing methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising: receiving a touch action madeupon a display of a display device, wherein the action of coupling thefirst apparatus and the second apparatus is a successive touch action tothe first connection part and the second connection part.
 18. Theinformation processing method according to claim 17, wherein thesuccessive touch action to the first connection part and the secondconnection part is a drag action.
 19. A non-transitory computer-readablemedium having embodied thereon a program, which when executed by acomputer causes the computer to execute a method, the method comprising:detecting whether a first connection of a first apparatus is ready;detecting whether a second connection of a second apparatus is ready;displaying a first icon corresponding to the first apparatus and asecond icon corresponding to the second apparatus; displaying a firstconnection part and a second connection part at circumferences of thefirst icon and the second icon respectively, to be connected with afirst line based on an establishing of a wireless connection between thefirst apparatus and the second apparatus; and acquiring informationobtained based on an action of coupling the first apparatus and thesecond apparatus, wherein the wireless connection between the firstapparatus and the second apparatus is established based on the acquiredinformation.